Talking Points: Kandi (Pg. 5)

"It definitely ended up being a good business move. When I first did it, I didn’t go into it with any type of plan or intention. I just was doing something because they approached me and it seemed to be cool. But after I seen it, it definitely does have a lot of impact, as far as your influence. It’s amazing how many people really watch the show and really follow everything you’re doing. And because of that, they’ll support you. They wanna know what’s going on in your music. They wanna know what’s going on with other things that you’re trying to have going on, so that’s why I wanted to do it one more year. Because obviously with me doing the album, it just made sense. I definitely can do without al l the negative that comes from it, but hey, the bad comes with the good and vice versa.

"I always felt I had tough skin, but I really feel like that now. You just have to be able to not care what people say and what people think. And I definitely feel like I’ve grown as far as not responding. Your first mind wants to respond to everything everybody got to say because it’s not true, but now it’s gotten to the point where I realize the best thing to do is not respond half the time. I can’t say that I would want to be doing reality TV forever. That’s not really my goal in life. And I don’t wanna be known to be a reality TV star, but if that’s helping with my other business moves then okay. I’ll take it."

On Other Reality Shows She Watches

"I watched Basketball Wives last year, and I tried to keep up with Chili’s show [What Chilli Wants] for the most part. I watched Fantasia’s [as well]. If it’s people that I’m cool with and friends with, I try to catch it or at least DVR it. Real and Chance, I can’t even do it. [Laughs] So I just didn’t watch that no more. Maybe I caught ‘em on a bad day. I don’t know, but… I realized when I look at Bravo, our Housewives and the Jersey Housewives are the two biggest ones. To me, it seems like the total of stereotypes. We fit the stereotypes of what they try to say [about Italian women and Black women]. It fits the stereotype, even though we really don’t wanna be the stereotypes. If we really look at ourselves and look at what they say how Black girls act or whatever, it kinda fits the stereotype and it’s crazy."

From the Web

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Kevin Hart's latest comedy special, Kevin Hart: Irresponsible, is set to stream on Netflix for all to see. The one-hour stand-up, which was filmed before 15,000 people at the O2 Arena in London, England, will be Hart's fifth comedy special to hit the streaming site.

Piggybacking off of the recent scandals and mayhem, this special will focus on the 39-year-old's friends, family, travel, and a year full of antics that made him "irresponsible."

The stand-up's taping derives from his most recent tour through North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia which kicked off in March 2018, according to Rolling Stone. The special will be available on Netflix on April 2.

The last time Hart was a trending topic was for past tweets that were deemed homophobic and resulted in him canceling his hosting position at the Oscars. Maybe his content will include this unfortunate situation.

R. Kelly's legal team is hoping a Cook County judge will grant the singer permission to travel overseas and perform in order to pay off his child support fees.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the 52-year-old singer signed a contract prior to his recent arrest, which outlined Kelly would perform three to five shows in Dubai and travel by private jet. He's slated to meet the royal family and the concert promoter is paying the expenses. Since being charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, Kelly cannot leave Illinois and has handed over his passport.

The singer's lawyer argues Kelly isn't a flight risk and as an entertainer should be granted permission to still work in order to pay off his debt.

“Mr. Kelly has a job that requires he be allowed to travel,” Steven Greenberg argued in Wednesday's court filing. “He cannot work, and consequently cannot make a living if he is confined to Illinois or even the United States.”

Greenberg noted Kelly isn't a flight risk and appeared in court in 2008 when he faced child pornography charges. The singer was found not guilty in that case.

“Denying him the opportunity to work would be a hardship on his children,” Greenberg later wrote.

In January, Lifetime aired a searing docuseries titled Surviving R. Kelly, which detailed years of sexual assault allegations from several of his alleged victims including Lisa Van Allen and ex-wife Andrea Kelly.

Kelly reportedly owes $161,000 in child support and alleges to have fallen on hard times due to renewed attacks. Last month the Grammy-award winner was indicted on charges he abused three girls and one woman over the span of a decade. The singer vehemently denied the accusations and pled not guilty.

“Most if not all of these allegations were all investigated years ago, and charges were not brought,” Greenberg wrote. “There is little if anything that has changed other than State’s Attorney’s desire to thrust herself into the spotlight of the #metoo movement.”

Continuing her crusade against sexual assault, Tarana Burke will take her advocacy on a tour of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) across the country. Taking to Instagram to announce her #MeToo movement trek, the trip will begin in April.

"I’m so excited to finally announce this!! This has been a vision of mine for many, many years," Burke captioned the image. "Every year during April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) college campuses around the country turn their focus towards dealing with sexual violence but very little activity happens on HBCU campuses during SAAM even though we know it’s happening."

I’m SO EXCITED to finally announce this!! This has been a vision of mine for many, many years. Every year during April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) college campuses around the country turn their focus towards dealing with sexual violence but very little activity happens on HBCU campuses during SAAM even though we know it’s happening! I spoke at more than 70 schools in 2018 (I know, right! 😳) and only two HBCUs 😐 and I wanted to change that. This year I teamed up with my girl @fiyawata (the original @professionalblackgirl) to bring this right to the yard and provide a space for HBCU students to talk, vent, strategize and heal. 💕 Sponsored in part by @lifetimetv and @the.root #Repost @metoomvmt ・・・ We are so excited to announce that in exactly two weeks, we’ll be kicking off the ‘me too.’ HBCU Tour featuring ‘me too.’ founder Tarana Burke (@taranajaneen), scholar Dr. Yaba Blay (@fiyawata) and special guests! This multi-city initiative is centered around creating safety and accountability for students, faculty and administrators. We have partnered with some of the country’s finest institutions - Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), to have real conversations about sexual assault and consent on campus. Each tour stop includes a strategic convening, a workshop for male-identifying individuals, and a fireside chat featuring a special guest. To get updates about specific stops, register using the link in our bio. #metooHBCU #metoo #metoomvmt #believesurvivors

Burke originally spoke at 70 college campuses during SAAM in 2018 but only visited two HBCUs. Partnering with Yaba Blay, the 45-year-old activist wants to "bring this right to the yard and provide a space for HBCU students to talk, vent, strategize and heal."

“While we are working in service to survivors of sexual violence from all walks of life, it's always been about Black people, particularly Black women and girls. This tour is important because we know that Black women make up the majority of the student population at HBCUs," Burke said to Blavity. "The college tour is an extension of our work to center marginalized communities in the movement to end sexual violence wherever it exists.”

Each panel will include discussions, strategic sessions with campus leaders, and workshops for men, with a special conversation between Burke and Blay. The tour will be sponsored by The Root and Lifetime with free admission for the public. Howard University, the Atlanta University Center located at Clark Atlanta University, Alabama State University, North Carolina Central University, and Florida A&M University are among the locations.